Which Dog Breeds Are The Easiest to Train?

With enough time and patience, it is possible to train pretty much any dog. However, some breeds are easier to train than others, especially if you are not an experienced dog trainer.

If you are looking to buy or adopt a dog as a family pet, then you might find it is easier to choose from the breeds that are easiest to train. This will give you the maximum chance of being able to shape your four-legged friend into a well-behaved and confident canine citizen.

Let’s take a look at some of the breeds which are usually considered to be among the easiest to train successfully.

Golden Retrievers
One of the easiest breeds of dog to train is the Golden Retriever. They also make one of the most popular choices for family pets because they are known for being incredibly gentle and loving.

Training a golden retriever is usually fairly easy compared with some other breeds because they are highly intelligent, are very eager to please their owners and they learn incredibly quickly.

Labrador Retrievers
Like Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers are highly intelligent and very easy to train. They make good family pets thanks to their gentle nature and playful demeanour.

Poodles
Poodles are one breed of dog that is largely misunderstood. You might think of them as a fussy, spoiled animal with a fancy haircut, but in fact, poodles are highly intelligent and as a result they are very easy to train.

They do need a lot of grooming, but they are also wonderful to train. One of the big plus points with poodles is they have hypo-allergenic coats meaning they won’t trigger pet hair allergies.

Bernese Mountain Dog
These big bear like fluff balls have a very good natured and kind personality with the patience of a saint. They are extremely good with children and so fantastic family pets.
They can be a bit aloof and headstrong, but if you start socialization and training early they take it to with passion. After all, having been originally bred as hard-working farm dogs, it’s in their very nature to follow commands. You just have to nurture the urge from a young age
One word of warning though: As they have such thick coats and are very large animals, they do not tolerate heat well, so consider the climate you live in and whether it’s right for a Bernese.

Papillon
Generally speaking, toy breeds can be very difficult to work with. However, Papillon are the exception to the rule. They are highly intelligent and very eager to please. Even inexperienced owners will find them fairly easy to train because the actively enjoy learning new behaviours.

Labradoodle
The Labradoodle breed was originally bred as a hypo-allergenic guide dog. The breed combines the intelligence and work ethic of the Labrador Retriever with the intelligence and the hypo-allergenic coat of a poodle. Since both of these breeds are easy to train, it comes as no surprise that the hybrid is too.Pomeranian
Another breed that can be easy to train is the Pomeranian. They are a highly intelligent breed – often said to be able to outsmart their owners! This makes them fast learners and although they do not have a drive to please their master like some of the bigger herding breeds, Pomeranians will still enjoy learning.

Welsh Corgi
The Welsh Corgi is often said to be strong willed which makes people think that training them would be difficult. However, they are also very intelligent and loyal which makes teaching them the basics very easy. They are an active breed so consistent training to teach new behaviours is something they will enjoy and which will keep them occupied!

German Shorthair Pointer
German Shorthair Pointers are good natured and highly adaptable dogs, making them excellent family pets. They will thrive with an active owner who loves the outdoors since they are predominantly bred as hunting dogs. They are very easy to train as long as you maintain their focus since they can be easily distracted. Short, but frequent training sessions will be best.

Final Thoughts
These breeds are generally easier to train simply because of their nature or genetics. However, it is important to note that while a certain breed might usually be easier to train, it does come down to the individual dog. If a dog from one of these breeds has existing behavioural issues or is subject to any other contributing factors then it may not be as easy to train as you might expect. Just remember that this is for guidance only and every dog needs to be treated as an individual.